Portable dark room.



J. E. OUATSOE &. W. BEIER.

PORTABLE DARK RDOM.

(Application filed Mar. 27 1899.)

Witnesses.

'I/I/I/IIIIIIIIIII'IIIII "IIIIIIII/ 'IIIIIIIIA A d9 fl THE warms FEYERS 60., Pno'mumo. WASHINGTON u a Patented Apr. 3, I900.

Inventors At torney;

JOHN E. QUATSOE PATENT ()rrrcs.

AND \VALTER BEIER, OF JANESVILLE, VISCONSIN.

PORTABLE DARK ROOM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 646,585, dated April 3, 1900.

Application filed March 27, 1899.

T0 aZZ whom it May concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN E. QUATSOE and XVALTER BEIER, citizens of the United States, residing at Janesville, in the county of Rock and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Portable Dark Rooms, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in portable dark rooms for developing photograph plates and films.

The object ofour invention is to provide an inclosure of such small dimensions that it may be readily carried from place to place with a portable camera, whereby the amateur or professional photographer is enabled to develop and finish pictures taken by him outdoors or wherever he may chance to be, thus avoiding the necessity of using the ordinary dark room of the photographer.

The construction of our device is further explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section ofthe dark room as it appears when drawn out or extended in position for use. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plate-holder removed from the dark room. Fig. elis a detail showing the device for locking the cases in their opened and closed positions.

Like parts are referred to by the same reference-letters throughout the several views.

A is the exterior case, which when the device is not in use is closed down over the lower or inner case B, when the two cases are locked together by the catch or button 0, which is secured to the lower edge of the upper case A and is adapted to engage beneath the bottom of the case B when the cases are in the closed position. When the two cases are thus locked together, they may be read- -ily carried from place to place by the handle D. When desirous to use the dark room, the catch or button 0 is disengaged from beneath the bottom of the case B. The exterior case is then drawn up, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when it is locked in said position by turning said button or catch 0 into the retaining notch or recess E provided therefor at the upper edge of the lower case B.

To enable the operator to handle the sen- Serial No. 710,591. (No model.)

sitive plates and other apparatuswithin the cases without admittinglight thereto, we have provided the lower case B with sleeves F F for the reception of the arms of the operator. The sleeves F are respectively secured at their inner ends to the lower case B around the hand-holes G G by tacks or other equivalent means, as indicated. To avoid withdrawing thehands when developing the plates, we have provided the case with the necessary apparatus for holding and treating such plates.

H isa light-tight receptacle in which the sensitive plates are stored preparatory to use. The receptacle .11 after being filled with plates is closed with the cover I. The upper edge of the receptacle His provided with outer projecting flanges J J, which engage in the supporting-ways K K. The re ceptacle H. having been supplied with the sensitive plates and the cover I closed, it is suspended, as indicated in Fig. 2, from the supporting-ways K of the case-cover L.

For convenience in treating the plates withinthe dark room we have provided a receptacle or a so-called developer-tray M, which is preferably suspended from the side of the inclosing case B from the rod N by hooks O O, which permit such developer-tray to be moved from one end to the other of the dark room, as may be found convenient. When the plates have been immersed in the liquid of the developer, they are removed therefrom and placed successively in the corrugations or grooves P P of the plate-holder Q, when the plate-holder is then placed in the receptacle or so-called hypotray R for further development. After the plates have been left the required length of time in the hypotray they are removed with the holder Q, when the same are withdrawn from the dark room. The hypotray is provided with a tight cover.

To facilitate the operator in drawing the IOO by which the operator is enabled to supply the developing-tray with the required proportions of the ingredients used without measuring the same. The respective ends of the case B are provided with ruby-colored glass plates U or plates of such other color as will exclude the injurious light-rays from the sensitive plates. The developing-tray M is preferably formed of glass or other transparent substances that the operator may Watch the development of the plates. The tray M is also provided with a water-tight cover or stopper to prevent the liquid from spilling when carried.

To facilitate removing the plates from the developer-tray, the same is provided with a lifting-bracket V, which may be formed from a single piece of wire bent in the shape indicated. The bracket V is provided with a horizontal projection W, which engages beneath the lower edge of the sensitive plate when emersed in the developing-tray. Thus it will be obvious that by throwing the bracket V from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the vertical at the right of the developing-tray the sensitive plate, which rests upon the projection W, will be raised from the developing-tray in position to be grasped by the hand of the operator, when it is removed and placed, as previously'stated, in the plate-holder Q, when the bracket V is permitted to drop back in the position shown.

In the construction of the cases A and B and the receptacle I-I care is taken to so form the joints that the light will be excluded.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a portable dark room, the combination of an exterior telescoping case A; platereceptacle H. suspended by supporting-ways from theinner upper wallor top of said receptaele; catch or button 0 pivoted to the lower edge of said exterior case; interiorcase 15 provided with a retaining notch or recess E for the reception of said catch or button; said cases being adapted to be telescoped together and locked in both their closed and extended positions by said catch, substantially as an d for the purpose specified.

2. In a portable dark room, the combination of an exterior telescoping case A; platereceptacle II suspended by supporting-ways from the inner upper wall or top of said receptacle; catch or button 0 pivoted to the lower edge of said exterior case interior case B provided with a retaining notch or recess E for the reception of said catch or button; oppositely-arranged sleeves F, respectively secured at their inner ends to saidinterior case 13, around the hand-holes G, G; said eases being adapted to be telescoped together and locked in both their closed and extended positions by said catch, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a portable dark room, the combination of an exterior telescoping case A; plate receptacle II suspended by supporting-ways from the inner upper wall or top of said receptacle; catch or button O pivoted to the lower edge of said exterior case; interior case 13 provided with a retaining notch or recess E for the reception of said catch or button; op positely-arranged sleeves F, respectively secured at the inner ends to said interior case 13, around the hand-holes G, G; oppositelyarranged colored-glass plates forming sides to said interior case; and a transparent developing-tray located between said colored glass plates, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof we allix our signatu res in the presence of witnesses.

JOHN E. QUATSOE. W'ALTER BEIER.

\Vitnesses to signature of John E. Quatsoc:

J. F. DOOKRY, O. F. MANN.

\Vitnesses to signature of Walter lieicr:

M. P. RICHARDSON, ERNEs'r HELLER. 

